Mississippi’s Super Regional: Southern Miss to host Ole Miss with a spot in Omaha hanging in the balance

The stage is about for what might be the toughest ticket to purchase in Mississippi baseball historical past.

On Monday, the state of Mississippi maintained its excessive commonplace for school baseball, with Southern Miss and Ole Miss now set to play in a Tremendous Regional as an opportunity to advance to Omaha, hangs within the steadiness.

And take into account the NCAA match area this yr was with out reigning nationwide champs Mississippi State.

“There’s no different state that loves baseball greater than Mississippi,” Berry mentioned. “You take a look at complete attendance for all three colleges in our state versus the large three colleges in some other state, and it’s not even shut. This state is keen about baseball. Ole Miss followers are keen about it identical to we’re and identical to Mississippi State. The environment goes to be identical to we noticed this weekend with the passionate LSU followers.”

For context, Southern Miss’ video games within the Hattiesburg Regional featured a complete attendance of 25,736. To not point out, the earlier assembly between Ole Miss and Southern Miss set the attendance report at Pete Taylor Park at 6,346.

The Golden Eagles needed to bounce again from the loser’s bracket and overcome a high-powered LSU offense. As for Ole Miss, the Rebels took care of enterprise within the Coral Gables Regional and cruised by means of the winner’s bracket because the No. 3 seed. Dangerous climate was maybe Ole Miss’ best impediment because the Rebels defeated Arizona 22-6 to make their third straight tremendous regional.

“It’s superior, particularly with our crowd, and they will carry some individuals. It’s going to be electrical right here,” Hattiesburg Regional MVP Christopher Sargent mentioned. “To get that rematch goes to be superior, and we are able to’t wait.”

Oddly sufficient, Southern Miss suffered heartbreak within the 2021 Oxford Regional final season. The Golden Eagle bats had been swinging properly whereas a number of arms had been out there within the pitching employees, however Ole Miss defeated USM within the regional closing.

“Final yr, I keep in mind, particularly with this group, we had a variety of returners,” mentioned Southern Miss pitcher Tyler Stuart, who recorded the ultimate out in USM’s 8-7 win over LSU. “I keep in mind after we misplaced the sport, it was a strikeout to finish the sport, and Ole Miss was celebrating. It actually does go away a foul feeling in your thoughts. All of it begins in August once you begin your first exercises and first apply. That offers you motivation to those moments like right now.”

Sargent distinctly remembered watching Ole Miss canine pile because the Rebels advance to a Tremendous Regional in Tucson, Arizona, final yr.

“It does go away a bitter style in your mouth,” Sargent mentioned. “Simply sitting there and watching them canine pile, it’s like you realize what, we’re going to get again up and do it once more. That’s what we did, and we got here out on high this time.”

Regardless of the in-state rivalry, Berry and Ole Miss Coach Mike Bianco have identified one another for nearly 22 years. Each coaches had been employed by their respective packages on the identical time again in 2000.

“We have now identified one another for a very long time,” Berry mentioned. “I’ve the utmost respect for Mike Bianco. I feel he’s an impressive individual and an impressive coach. In my thoughts, he has constructed Ole Miss and that baseball program. There must be a statue outdoors for him with what he has been capable of obtain and constructing that program up. We’re good mates.”

The Golden Eagles will host the Rebels on both Friday or Saturday. Recreation occasions shall be introduced later within the week.